Combination fork and finger lift attachment



p 1953 D, E HARTQUIST COMBINATION FORK AND FINGER LIFT ATTACHMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

Filed Aug. 50, 1950 INV ENTOR. Donald 11;. Hartqu ist 4 By @2 93 ATTORNEYS.

Sept. 1, 1953 D. E. HARTQUIST COMBINATION FORK AND FINGER LIFT ATTACHMENT Filed Aug. 30, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Il I 27 INVENTOR. .DonaZdEflaz'tc um' BY ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 1, 1953 COMBINATION FORK AND FINGER LIFT ATTACHMENT Donald E. Hartquist, Kankakee, Ill., assignor to A. 0. Smith Corporation, Milwaukee, Wis., a

corporation of New York Application August 30, 1950, Serial N 0. 182,217

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a combination fork and finger lift attachment for industrial lift trucks.

An object of the invention is to provide a lift truck attachment having both finger means for lifting objects with interspaces and demountable fork means for lifting objects not adapted to be handled by the finger means.

Another object is to provide an attachment having forwardly projecting finger members adapted to lift crates and the like without the necessity of using forks and pallets, but which is readily convertible to a conventional fork truck when it is desired to handle small parts, uncrated machinery, or other objects not having the interspaces or overhanging portions necessary for the successful employment of the finger members.

A further object of the invention is to provide afork and finger lift attachment having a side shift cylinder connected to move the fingers laterally of the lift truck in order to properly register the fingers with the crate to be carried and to shift the crate, after the same has been transported, to a position closely adjacent a store room or freight car Wall.

Another object is to provide a combination fork and finger lift attachment wherein the fork mounting means serve to strengthen and reinforce the apron member used in conjunction with the fingers in the handling of containers with interspaces.

The attachment, in general, comprises a carriage mounted for vertical movement on the elevator mast of an industrial lift truck, a frame slidably supported on a rail at the upper portion of the carriage, a horizontal row of forwardly projecting finger members mounted at the upper frame edge for insertion into the interspaces of a crate or the like to lift the same, and an apron depending from the lower frame edge to aid in supporting the crate during handling. A bearing plate disposed at the lower edge of the carriage serves both as a reinforcing means for the apron and as a support for a pair of conventional lift forks hooked through apertures in the apron to support a pallet and load resting thereon. In order to shift the fingers laterally of the truck, a hydraulic side shift cylinder is connected between the apron and carriage for operation after removal of the forks from their mountings on the bearing plate.

Other objects and advantages will be set forth more fully in the following description of the invention as illustrated on the accompanying drawlDgS.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the attachment as mounted on the elevator mast of an industrial lift truck;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the attachment;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the attachment, parts being broken away to show details of structure; and

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken along line dt of Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the attachment is adapted to be supported on the elevator mast l of an industrial lift truck, the front end only of which is shown. The mast is illustrated as formed with a pair of suitably braced opposed channel members 2 which are pivotally supported at 3 by the truck frame and are held at the desired angle of tilt by a link 4 connected between the mast and a hydraulic actuating mechanism. The tilting link 4 and associated mechanisms are preferably designed, for proper handling and transporting of a load, so that the mast i may be tilted approximately five degrees forwardly from the vertical and fifteen degrees rearwardly therefrom.

As is conventional with industrial trucks, the mast I is shown as having a pair of elevator chains 5 mounted therein to interconnect the lift truck elevator mechanism, not shown, and the carriage t of the attachment next to be described.

Carriage 6 comprises a pair of vertically spaced horizontal bars 1, upper and lower pairs of brackets 8 welded, respectively, to the rear faces of bars I to provide mountings for corresponding pairs of rolls 9, and a pair of vertically disposed connecting bars l0 welded between the rear faces of bars 1 outwardly of brackets 13 to unite the carriage into a unitary structure. The rolls 9 are disposed in the channels 2 and serve, upon operation of the connecting chains 5 by the lift truck elevator mechanism, to provide friction free movement of the carriage along the mast.

In carrying out the invention, the carriage t is provided with an extension portion comprising upwardly extending posts ii disposed longitu dinally of the connecting bars it to provide support for a horizontal rail [2 welded between the forward faces thereof. The posts ii are preferably secured at the rear of the joints between bars 1 and ID by means of bolts it, so that the carriage extension portion may be readily removed when desired.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the rail I2 is formed with a raised edge 14 which is machined smooth for easy sliding of a frame l5 mounted in interlocking relation therewith. Frame [5 comprises upper and lower flange plates l6 connected by a web plate I! which abuts the forward surface of rail l2, the said plates 16 and I! being welded much in the form of an I beam. In order to interlock the frame with the rail, a flange bar [8 is welded to the under surface of the upper plate I6 for engagement with the rear surface of rail edge M.

A crate or other object with interspaces may be lifted by means of a horizontal row of forwardly projecting spring biased finger members I9 pivotally mounted at the front edge of the upper flange plate l6. retractable for selective insertion into c ate interspaces to lift the crate upon elevation of the attachment, are fully described in co-pending application Serial No. 131,163 for a Crate Lifting Attachment, filed December 5, 1949, by Albert V. Blatz, andassigned to the assignee of the present invention.

Where it is desired to lift cartons as well as crates withoutthe use of forks or pallets the fingers [.9 may be adapted with suitable upwardly projecting hooks as described in a second. copending application Serial No. 178,142, filed August 7, 1950, by Albert V; Blatz and assigned to the present assignee.

In order to prevent the crate or carton being handled. from pivoting as it is lifted, and also to aid in supporting the crate ,or carton after the mast .I has been tilted toward the truck, an apron member 2.0 is welded to the under surface of the lower flange plate 16. The apron is formed with a horizontally disposed plate 21', projecting forwardly from the plate 16, and a vertically disposed plate 22'formed integral with plate 2| and extending downwardly therefrom beneath the fingers. If desired, an .angle iron 23 may be welded to the lower edge of plate 22 to make the the same more'rigid.

The apron 2:0 is reinforced, to prevent bending under the weight of the crate being transported, by upper and lower horizontal bearing bars 24 and 25, respectiyely. The bearing bars are held in vertically spaced-relation in engagement with the inner surface of .the apron plate 22 by .a pair of brackets 26 formedas part of the carriage 6,. As shown in Figs. 1 and 4, brackets 26 are welded between the bearing bars. and the lower horizontal bar 1, and arespacedioutwardly of the mast I for maximum strength and rigidity.

It is desirable, whenever the nature of the object .to be transported makes it possible, to employ the fingers .l9.and related apparatus instead.

of the forks or pallets conventionally used with industrial trucks. This is because the truck is much more maneuverable where forks are not employed, and also because a great saving of storage or freight car space is effected when it is unnecessary tostore or ship pallets together with the loads resting thereon.

For certain types of loads, however, it is not possible .to use the fingers and it becomes neces sary to resort to the conventional forks and pallets. This could be done by changingfrorn a finger truck to .a fork truck, but it is highly desirable, for increased economy of load handling, that a single truck be made readily convertible for use with either fingers or forks.

According to the invention, a pair of lift forks 21 is provided on the attachment to adapt the truck to the handlin of pel e .Ihe fork 2 comprise forwardly projecting portions 2 8 formed The fingers, which are 4 integral with vertical portions 28 which beai against the apron plate 22.

To permit ready mounting and demounting of the forks, depending upon whether the fingers I9 are to be employed, hooks 3|] are welded at the upper rear faces of fork portions 29 and the upper bearing bar 24 is provided with a raised edge 3|. The hooks 30 extend through suitable apertures 32 in the apron plate 22 and hook over the raised edge 3 I.

As shown in Fig. 3, each fork 21 may be prevented from sliding out of position by a pair of lugs 33, welded on the raised edge 3| on opposite sides of the corresponding hook 30. With the described mounting means, the forks 21 may be instantly mounted or removed, it being unnecessary to use any bolts or clamping devices.

It is frequently desirable, for maximum crate handling efllciency, to shift the fingers l9 laterany of h truck;- e epr iesly. a drau c: s d shift cylinder 34. is disposed longitudinally of the frame I5 beneath the horizontal apron plate 2. a d i n cted at eee nd t u tab e. hose an a sourc fluid ressure. ot show Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, a piston 35 is u d it in he cylin e and conne ted through a piston rod 36 to a bracket 3] depending,

from the lower surface of apron plate 2|, To mp te the ou ms f t e l nderend isto the end of the cylinder 34 opposite bracket 3 is p o to 1 s n e u per ho zontal ba I of carriage 6.

Because of the connection of thecylinder piston between the laterally slidable apron 2g; and frame 15 and the stationary carriage 6, the

oduc o o .hrd euli fluid n o e t e e d of the cylinder 34 will shift the frame, fingers i9 and ap n t. a on th rail '2 ndbea m bars 24 and 25 laterally of the truck. This side shifting will not be interfered. with bythe forks 27 since they are not mounted-on the truck while the fingers are "being used.

In operation, the, truck is normally employed to an por cr t s. ca tons and h like, an

the forks 21 are not mounted on. the attach.- t- Wh HWQSW Y Q e am e whe e a number of small parts-or boxes are to be handled, the forks 21 a re quickly set in position on the bearing bar 24 and pe l ser m lo eeas n t e c .o ordi r fo t uc s If it is desired to use the forks for a long period. of time, the finger portion ,of- ,the attachment may be removed by disconnecting the pisto'nfrod 13,6. from-the bracket 31 and sliding the frame 1512\nd., fingers off the rail l2, -a, threadedv c'o nepuen, being provided betweenrod 3,6 and suitable nuts on opposite sides of bracket 3] to facilitate this operation. In addition, the attachmentrnaybe lightened by unbolting the. posts 1H and thusfde mounting the rail 12 supported thereby.

The described invention provides. a strongand. rigidly constructedrneans of adapting ali f-t'truck, to either finger or fork operation. The peed; with which the forks. ay be mounted and (1e;

mounted, as well as the-use of the bearing bars 24 and 25 to both support ,the forks and reinforce the apron, result inacompact apparatuswhich' is highly convenient to, the truckloperator.

Various o m t o the -.inventien ma be employed withinthe-scope of .the followingclaigns.

I claim: 1. In a combination fork and finger attachment adapted to beemllhYQd-Mth 1 ele ate. mast of ,an.-.in dustrial :lift truck, .a-support are ranged on said mast for vertical movementby.

, the lift truck elevator mechanism, a plurality of generally short narrow fingers pivoted on said support for movement of all or some of the fingers toward the truck depending upon the container to be lifted and projecting outwardly only slightly beyond the vertical plane of the support for insertion into a component part of a container to lift the container upon elevation of the attachment, and a pair of forks mounted on said support beneath the fingers and projecting forwardly for lifting engagement with a pallet and a load disposed thereon, said forks being readily removable to prevent interference with the operation of said fingers.

2. In a combination fork and finger attachment adapted to be employed with the elevator mast of an industrial lift truck, a carriage mounted on said mast and vertically movable by the lift truck elevator mechanism associated therewith, a horizontal row of finger members with each finger member being automatically retractably supported at the upper portion of said carriage and projecting forwardly therefrom for insertion into the interspaces of a container to lift the container upon elevation of the attachment, said fingers being normally biased to a forward position with some of the fingers moving to a retracted position upon engagement with a component part of the container to be handled as a number of the fingers are inserted therein, and a pair of forks mounted at the lower portion of said carriage and extending forwardly for lifting engagement with a pallet and a load disposed thereon, said forks being readily demountable to prevent interference with the operation of said finger members.

3. In a combination fork and finger attachment adapted to be employed with the elevator mast of an industrial lift truck, a carriage mounted on said mast and vertically movable by the lift truck elevator mechanism, a frame disposed on said carriage for movement therewith, a horizontal row of generally short fingers pivoted on said frame for movement of all or some of the fingers toward the truck depending upon the container to be lifted and projecting outwardly therefrom for insertion beneath a component part of a container to lift the container upon elevation of the attachment, an apron secured on said frame beneath said fingers to engage the container being handled and prevent the same from pivoting during the lifting thereof, and a pair of lift forks removably mounted on the attachment and extending forwardly therefrom to support a load of a type not adapted to be handled by said fingers and apron, the outward projection of said fingers being only slightly beyond the vertical plane of said apron.

4. A combination fork and finger attachment comprising a carriage mounted on the mast of an industrial lift truck and vertically movable by the lift truck elevator mechanism associated with said mast, a horizontal rail secured on said carriage, a frame disposed on said rail and slidable therealong laterally of the truck, a horizontal row of generally short finger members automatically retractably mounted on said frame and projecting forwardly therefrom only slightly beyond the vertical plane of the frame for insertion into the interspaces of a crate to lift the same upon elevation of the attachment, a pair of lift fork-s mounted on said carriage and readily demountable to prevent interference with the operation of said finger members, and a hydraulic cylinder and piston connected between said frame and carriage to shift the fingers along the rail laterally of the truck and properly register the fingers with the crate to be carried, with a number of said fingers entering inside the crate for lifting the same and another number of the fingers engaging slats on the crate and retracting to an inoperative lifting position.

5. In a combination fork and finger attachment adapted to be employed with the elevator mast of an industrial lift truck, a carriage mounted on said mast and vertically movable by the lift truck elevator mechanism, a frame disposed on said carriage for movement therewith, a plurality of fingers mounted on said frame and projecting outwardly therefrom for insertion beneath a component part of a container to lift the container upon elevation of the attachment, an apron mounted on said frame and having a vertical portion disposed beneath said fingers to engage said container, a bearing member secured on said carriage and engaging the rear face of said vertical apron portion, a pair of lift forks disposed forwardly of said vertical apron portion and projecting therefrom to support a pallet and load disposed thereon, and mounting means extending through apertures in said vertical apron portion to mount said forks on said bearing member, said mounting means being constructed to facilitate movement of said forks to prevent the same from interfering with the operation of said fingers.

6. Apparatus of the character described comprising a carriage mounted on the mast of an industrial lift truck and vertically movable by the lift truck elevator mechanism associated with said mast, a horizontal rail secured on said carriage, a frame disposed on said rail and slidable therealong laterally of the truck, a horizontal row of finger members retractably mounted on said frame and projecting forwardly therefrom for insertion into the interspaces of a crate to lift the same upon elevation of the attachment, an apron depending from said frame and having a vertical portion disposed'beneath said fingers to engage said crate, a bearing member secured on said carriage in engagement with the rear face of said vertical apron portion, a hydraulic cylinder and piston connected between said frame and said carriage to shift the finger members and apron along said rail and bearing member laterally of the truck, and a pair of lift forks mounted forwardly of said vertical apron portion and supported by said bearing member, said forks being readily demountable to prevent interference with the finger lift and side shift op eration of the apparatus.

7. A combination fork and finger attachment adapted to be employed with a lifting elevator, comprising a support mounted on said elevator for vertical movement thereby, a plurality of fingers pivoted on said support and projecting forwardly therefrom for insertion of some of the fingers into the interspaces of a crate to lift the crate upon elevation of the attachment and with another number of the fingers automatically pivoting toward the elevator into inoperative lifting position upon engagement with the slats of the crate, a bearing member mounted on said support beneath said fingers and having a vertical forward face, and a pair of lift forks hooked over the upper edge of said bearing member and extending forwardly to carry a load of a type not adapted to be handled by said fingers, said lift forks being readily removable to prevent interference with the crate lifting function of the attachment and to. permit said bearing member to, be. utilized to prevent said crate; from pivoting.

during the lifting thereof by said fin ers, the;

forward projection of said fingers being only slightly beyond the vertical plane of. the, hearin member.

8. A combination fork and finger lift attachment adapted to be employed with, the, elevator of a lift truck, comprising a support 3119 1111561 on said elevator for vertical. movement thereby, av plurality of fingers. pivotally mounted on. said support, said, fingers being normally disposedln a forwardly projecting positionfor insertion into the interspaces of a crate but automatically pivotable selectively to a retracted position to render the same inoperative upon engagement by ome of the fingers with slate of said, crate, a, bearing, member mounted on said support beneath said fingersv and. having a horizontal, upper edge; .said bearing member being adapted, to provide support for a pair of laterally spacecijlift forks rewages moyebly hooked. over. sai umi dge nd or atYfi ftlfifi-nx ,clieposeg' apron wunted forwardly oiiseid.bearinamembier to e zagesa d cr and prevemme tame ,trom pivoting during the lifting thereofhxsaidfingers and elevator.

DONALD E. HARTQUIST.

ReIerences Cited" in'the'file of this patent UNIT-ED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,835,431 Ryerson Dec. 8, 1931 1;-943;7 42 Proslomy- Jan. 16, 19.34 2,175,041 Thumim Oct. 3, 1939 2,445,614 Flynn et a1 July 20, 1948 2,447,300 Williams Aug. 17, 1948 2,456,320 Repke Dec. 14, 19.48 2=,48 3;534 Prisehmmn'et a1:. .Oct. 4, 1949 2,496,399 Feb. 7, 1950 2 5'13, 928 July 4, 1950 2,547,329 194mm Apr. 3, 1951 

